Goat on the lam nabbed near Turlock police dept.

Animal control officers are trying to find the owner of a goat found on the lam near downtown Monday morning. Someone first spotted the goat in the Turlock Police Department parking lot shortly before 9 a.m.

PATTY GUERRA/pguerra@modbee.com A goat is captured by animal control staff in a church parking lot after leaving the Turlock Police Department parking lot Monday morning. Feb. 4, 2013
The Modesto Bee

Animal control officers are trying to find the owner of a goat found on the lam near downtown Monday morning.

Someone first spotted the goat in the Turlock Police Department parking lot shortly before 9 a.m. It wasn't clear if the goat planned to turn itself in or report a crime. While animal control officers were en route, the goat left the police station and headed to the War Memorial building before crossing Canal Drive into a residential neighborhood.

Eventually, the goat found itself at the Assyrian Evangelical Church on Monroe Avenue — perhaps to confess its crime?

A Turlock police staff member closed off the parking lot as animal control officer Glenna Jackson arrived. With help from some onlookers, officers got the goat into custody.

But where the goat came from is a mystery, and the kid ain't talking. She's wearing a livestock tag, but that doesn't have information on her owner.

Officers plan to post a photo of the goat with information on the department's website, hoping its owner responds. In the meantime, the goat has adapted to life behind bars.

"She's out in the field, hanging out with our other goats," Jackson said.

Breaking News Editor Patty Guerra can be reached at pguerra@modbee.com or (209) 578-2343. Follow her on Twitter, @pattyguerra.